Cassie LaRue Gaines (January 9, 1948 October 20, 1977) was an American singer, best known for her work with Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Wilkeson would eventually be found dead in a hotel room in 2001 at age 49. with Janice Tewell. we love you, Your email address will not be published. Miami, Ottawa County . Both Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed in the crash. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He said "do you think I'm good enough to do that?" This account has been disabled. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell would both go on to pursue other musical ventures and both have a hand in several Lynyrd Skynyrd re-boots. The day before, they had learned of a small engine fire on the plane. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Father of Bob, Steven Earl, and Cassie Larue. Identification was completely hindered as there had been a poker game going on during the flight, and everyones wallets and purses had been strewn throughout the swamp. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. "I don't know anyone that ever said anything bad about Steve. Rescue vehicles on the ground found no direct path in sight. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Though they shipped out for Macon, Georgia just a few weeks later, their impact was immense in their city of origin, with a number of bands following in their footsteps over the next decade. Devonshire Downs Home Of The Newport Pop Festiv UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall In Berkeley, CA, Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios Former Location In Hempstead, NY, Ode Records Former Location In Malibu, California, Buried Here Bob McBride, Singer For Lighthouse, The Singer Bowl The Doors Headline For The Who In 1968. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Help finally arrived, but it was too late. He attempted an emergency landing just outside Gillsburg, Mississippi. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. They called themselves The Honkettes. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Beforehand the Dobson Museum will host a memorial including everything from the band's platinum record to the music Steve Gaines recorded in Oklahoma. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, The Alice Cooper Fact Sheet 5 Things You Need To Know. The will to carry on was strong, however, Pyle being a US Marine, would live out the phrase Semper Fidelis which means always faithful. She attended Miami High School and was a part of the theatre group there. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Its going to be here for awhile. Musician. Cassie was an original member of the "Honkettes", the female back-up singers for the band. GREAT NEWS! Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Rocks Off Magazine is reader-supported. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. Not long after Cassie joined the band, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost one of their guitar players Ed King. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Ketcher said. Steve Gaines, Septembe. He had already finished a film about the plane crash when Gary and several others stepped in and placed a lawsuit against the film to not be shown to the public. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. You know musically, any other way you want to try it, just work hard. Says Bobby Poole, Ottawa County Musicians Tribute Committee Member. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Steve Gaines (1949 - 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in May 1976. Votes" polls, earn exclusive profile badges and claim your Rocks Off Mag merch! Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park . Oops, something didn't work. He died along with his sister and Van Zant in the 1977 crash and was buried in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. The choppers belonged to the Coast Guard, National Guard and Forrest County General Hospital, who were doing their best to ferry people in, and illuminate the crash site. All reality had been broken and none of the surviving members would ever be the same or view life the same again. Weve updated the security on the site. In 1988, MCA Records released some of Gaines' previously produced tracks on the album, "One in the Sun." She was 29 years old. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. Less than a week after the release of the album, a plane carrying the band crashed into a Mississippi swamp, killing both Steve and Cassie Gaines, Van Zant, and band manager Dean Kilpatrick. Musician. Steve Gaines (1949 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in May 1976. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. Cassie Gaines (1948 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975 as a backup singer, one of a trio of gospel vocalists dubbed the Honkettes. Original grave of Steve Gaines. The subgenre outlived both the Allman Brothers, who broke up in 1976, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, who disbanded after a plane crash in 1977 that took the lives of three members, including frontman Ronnie Van Zant. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. However, she had suffered what would end up being life-threatening injuries. Here Are Our Sources: Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrds Deadly 1977 Plane Crash, Jordan Runtagh, The Rolling Stones, What Happened To The Surviving Members Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash?, Micheal Cristopher, Ultimate Classic Rock.com, Falling Free Bird: The Truth About The Infamous Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Is Stranger Than Fiction, Phil Gibbons, Ranker.com, The Joplin Globe Steve and Cassie Gaines to be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. The band created a gospel vocal trio with Cassie Gaines, JoJo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins. Weve updated the security on the site. On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Use your Rocks Off Mag account to vote in our "G.O.A.T. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Ever since, the site has served as a shrine for fans, who often leave flowers, guitar picks, an other tokens in tribute to the band members. Arguably the first true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, formed following a jam at a Riverside home known as the Gray House. Cassie Gaines (1948-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial. Ultimate Classic Rock What Happened to the Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash? With a focus on the 60s, 70s, and 80s, we aim to grow into the modern age as we grow ourselves. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Verify and try again. Thanks for your help! Learn more about managing a memorial . When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. Miamians Steve and Cassie Gaines were musicians and singers for the legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Cassie Gaines Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Learn more about merges. Failed to remove flower. In fact, it was when she was performing in the schools version of Hairspray when a couple of the guys from a little band called Lynyrd Skynyrd saw her on stage. Natural causes were to blame. Add to your scrapbook. Steve and Cassie Gaines played with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1975 until October of 1977. Comments. Please reset your password. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Try again later. In June 2000, the graves of Van Zant and Steve Gaines were vandalized. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. MIAMI, Okla. -- The city of Miami is preparing to honor their own this weekend, inducting two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. [2] Though Cassie Gaines initially refused to board the flight, she was against her better judgment convinced to do so by other passengers. Husband of Cassie Larue Geines. At 1:30 p.m., Steve and Cassie Gaines' childhood street in Miami, Circle Drive, will be co-named Gaines Drive in their honor. It happens. I would like to think that only one grave robber was involved, but so many items were missing that I have to believe otherwise. It was as if they were back in Noahs time and all but a select few were stricken with greed of mankind and the chance to capitalize on an easy opportunity. Gene Odom had been thrown from the plane and broke his neck, his skin badly burned and one eye blinded by phosphorus from a de-icing flare that had been aboard. Search above to list available cemeteries. On the way home, she was involved in a fatal car accident. Three of the survivors, Artimus Pyle, Marc Frank, and Ken Peden actually went on foot to get help. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Gaines was invited by JoJo Billingsley and Ronnie Van Zant to join Lynyrd Skynyrd as a backup singer. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Wilkeson would play in both Rossington Collins Band and the Allen Collins band. Can I legally marry my cousin in Missouri? The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. The plane had completely disintegrated. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? This browser does not support getting your location. In 2018, both Cassie Gaines and her brother Steve were posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. That was why we were doing it. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. To complete the sign up process please verify your email address by clicking on the link that has been sent to you previously speficifed email. That farm belonged to a young dairy farmer named Johnny Mote. In 1988, MCA Records released some of Gaines' previously produced tracks on the album, "One in the Sun." In 2006, Gaines was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Ketcher said he stayed in touch with Gaines through the years, and his former band mate watched him perform the night before signing with Lynyrd Skynyrd. The years after the crash would be difficult in its own right for surviving members, most of which would experience tragedy and early death themselves. There is a problem with your email/password. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. View 2 previous comments . I thought you might like to see a memorial for Cassie Gaines I found on Findagrave.com. The Gaines siblings and Van Zant, along with three members of the group's road crew, were . Its not pieces that youre just gonna find in another museum in any corner of the state, or other corner of the country. Boid says. 11 comments. Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steves grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Thank you for signing up to the Rocks Off. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Please try again later. Cassie Gaines was part of Lynyrd Skynyrds backup singers called The Honkettes. The crash also killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve's sister Cassie Gaines, . Add to your scrapbook. Two bulldozers were dispatched to plow a primitive path off nearby Highway 568 in order to give a ground path available to the first responders. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back up for Lynyrd Skynyrd, suggested Gaines as a replacement for the group's departing guitarist. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Cassie told them they should invite her brother, Steve Gaines, to join the band. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. (Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the bands crew were flying to a tour date in Baton Rouge when the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in the Southern Mississippi woods. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Sign up fornewsletters emailed to your inbox. In 1977, emotions were high and decisions had to be made quickly, so we laid Ronnie to rest in Orange Park, she said. 30 Likes, 0 Comments - Alberto Zini (@zini_alberto) on Instagram: "Lynard Skynard memorial site, in memory of Steve, Cassie and Ronnie.Ma quanto era figo Steve" His two brothers also became notable Southern rock musicians: Donnie Van Zant was a member of fellow Jacksonville band 38 Special, while Johnny became lead singer for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. I think she finally sees that theres a place that we really care about her dad and her aunt. Like. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The 22-year-old had been outside bailing hay in the twilight when he heard the crash in the distance, which he assumed was a car skidding in gravel. But after seeing helicopter searchlights, he started to assume it was a jailbreak instead. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. This would be the second tragedy to strike the Gaines family in just one year. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. cemeteries found in Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [3] Her hesitation was due to a small fire on one of the engines the previous day. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. After his and Van Zants graves were damaged by vandals in 2000, Gaines family reportedly removed his ashes to a private location. He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. Miami natives Steve and Cassie Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd to be honored in Oklahoma Hall of Fame Posted at 4:20 PM, Sep 07, 2018 and last updated 2018-09-07 17:20:18-04 At this point, for Artimus Pyle, Marc Frank, and Ken Peden, the only sensible thing left to do was to leave certain death at the crash site, for uncertainty in the swamp. However, the rest of the group coaxed her to get on. Coleman Theatre Celebrity Park Wall of Fame. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida. . Melody and I were never happy with this spot, Judy Van Zant continued. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Please enter the adress associated with your account. . The guitarist's friends were shocked when his plane went down less than two years later. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The widow of Ronnie Van Zant, the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, has confirmed to News4JAX that his final resting place has been moved to a new location in the same cemetery. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. [5] According to controversial claims by survivor Billy Powell, Gaines bled to death after the accident in Powell's arms due to deep lacerations.[6]. Try again later. I dont know who you think we are but we were on a plane and the plane crashed out there on the other side of that cow pasture. Mote instantly connected the dots to the sound he heard earlier and the men that lay before him. privacy policy. Once she had a chance to get to know their music a little better, she agreed to join the band. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Jacksonville, the birthplace of Southern rock, is also the final resting place of many who defined the genre. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The only thing left was a trail of debris and people. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Cassie at first refused to get on the plane. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. To this day they remember him fondly. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Steve was the guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd was next up, and by 1973 had joined the Allman Brothers as standard bearers for the Southern rock sound. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The whole scene tore him apart. Make sure that the file is a photo. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. He was just a good guy, he was a good person, always treated everybody well. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. Although the clothes are on loan, they will be at the Dobson for the foreseeable future. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. Like I said its very one of a kind and rare. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The two tell 2 Works for You back in the day they were looked at as a bunch of hippies. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. They asked if anyone knew of someone who played the guitar. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. You can make it from here. They did you can. Musician. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Where Did We Find This Stuff? He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Mote hopped into his pick-up to get back to his house, told his wife to get back in the house, then proceeded to grab his gun and stand guard. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Special Olympics comes to Pittsburg for basketball, Biden acknowledges White Lotus star is most famous, Ryan McFarland speaks on accepting the Webb City, Galenas Beau Sarwinski steps away from head coaching, Small town brewery in Missouri best in the state, Jasper teen who killed sister released from custody, Smithsonian posters in Joplin highlight American, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The original mausoleum remains in place. R.I.P all three of you. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Among the six who died were Van Zant, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and guitarist Steve Gaines. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Original grave of Steve Gaines. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Year should not be greater than current year. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Just like the Smithsonian, or anywhere yes, it speaks major volume that we would have a collection like this on display. Try again later. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Rock Musician. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. As the birthplace of so many bands, Jacksonville also has been the final resting place for many Southern rock musicians. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. She was visiting the cemetery where her son and daughter were buried. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. The crash also killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve's sister Cassie Gaines, . In late 1975, Gaines, Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins formed The Honkettes, a female gospel vocal trio for Skynyrd.[1]. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. , Apple Watch ban: Heres what happens next, These cities are home to the happiest Americans, Person sleeping in car with large sword arrested, Husband of housekeeper arrested in Bishops death, Lawmakers grill IRS nominee about overhaul, Super Bowl fans missed game winning field goal by, UPDATE: Road reopens after ice forces Highway 59, More from KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. This historical marker was erected by Coleman Theatre. There was an error deleting this problem. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Abby comes to a difficult decision. In fact, Lynyrd Skynyrds manager had actually already decided that, once the band reached Baton Rouge, they would be getting a new plane. Sadly, just a few months later, their mother, LaRue Gaines, would also die a tragic death. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. On the group's following LP, "Street Survivors"(1977), he was listed as composer on four of the album's songs, two solo and two in collaboration with Ronnie Van Zant. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. Try again. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. He was 29 yeas old. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry had demanded that their manager book the plane. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 7 shares. Musician. "A simple memorial for a simple man." Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick of Lynyrd Skynyrd and their pilot and co-pilot were killed when their. Please enter your email and password to sign in. With 5 pieces of rock and roll hall of fame material on display, Boid says you cant find clothing like this anywhere else. Ronnie was the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd. We always wondered why, you know. The surviving members would grapple with this throughout their days. He debuted on their now classic live album, "One More from the Road"(1976). Steve wrote some of the famous songs for the band's 1977 album "Street Survivors". Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. Sorry! They walked for what seemed like forever to a local farm. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Steve Gaines (2351)? The band had been looking for a new third guitar player to replace departed member Ed King, and gave Gaines an audition at the suggestion of his older sister Cassie. Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. He was 28 years old. The museum will be open from 9:00 to 4:00 on Saturday, and at 4:00 the official induction will begin at the Hall of Fame. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. cemeteries found in Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Inscription. What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. In fact, despite the fact that the pilot had signaled a call for help, nobody responded. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. A little after an hour of trudging through a creek and at one point burrowing underneath a barbed wire fence they found themselves staring at a small, dim light in the distance. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Most of the 20 survivors were taken to Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb, where the lobby had been transformed into a makeshift emergency treatment center to quickly deal with the onslaught of plane crash victims. Other successful bands to emerge from Jacksonvilles fertile scene at this time included Cowboy, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and 38 Special. Ronnie Van Zant and JoJo Billingsley, who asked Cassie to join the band, gave her a few of their albums to listen to. He would eventually succumb to paralytic pneumonia while being treated in a hospital in 1990. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. Everybody Knows The Words, But What Is Hotel California About? . After a great deal of time and thought we decided on a quiet, peaceful spot under a big oak tree overlooking a small lake., RELATED: Lynyrd Skynyrd monument unveiled in Mississippi | Survivors of Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, families, fans commemorate site, He has been moved, and we hope that completion of the new site will be early spring, she said.